Sex is a fundamental biological characteristic that influences many aspects of an organism’s phenotype, including neurobiological functions and behavior as a result of species-specific evolutionary pressures. Sex differences have strong implications for vulnerability to disease and susceptibility to environmental perturbations. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have the potential to interfere with sex hormones functioning and influence development in a sex specific manner. Here we present an updated descriptive review of findings from animal models and human studies regarding the current evidence for altered sex-differences in behavioral development in response to early exposure to EDCs, with a focus on bisphenol A and phthalates. Overall, we show that animal and human studies have a good degree of consistency and that there is strong evidence demonstrating that EDCs exposure during critical periods of development affect sex differences in emotional and cognitive behaviors. Results are more heterogeneous when social, sexual and parental behaviors are considered. In order to pinpoint sex differences in environmentally-driven disease vulnerabilities, researchers need to consider sex-biased developmental effects of EDCs.

性是一种基本的生物学特征，会影响生物表型的许多方面，包括由于物种特定的进化压力而导致的神经生物学功能和行为。性别差异对疾病易感性和对环境扰动的敏感性具有重要意义。内分泌干​​扰化学物质（EDC）可能会干扰性激素的功能，并以性别特定的方式影响发育。在这里，我们对动物模型和人体研究的发现进行了更新的描述性综述，涉及有关因早期暴露于EDC而引起行为发展中的性别差异发生改变的当前证据，重点是双酚A和邻苯二甲酸酯。总体，我们显示动物和人类研究具有高度的一致性，并且有强有力的证据表明，在发育的关键时期暴露于EDC会影响情绪和认知行为中的性别差异。当考虑到社交，性行为和父母行为时，结果会更加不同。为了查明环境驱动的疾病脆弱性中的性别差异，研究人员需要考虑EDC的性别偏见对发育的影响。